Books, Manuscripts & Objects from Three Important Collections | 2026 | Sotheby's

LOTS 1-86: FROM THE CHESS COLLECTION OF LOTHAR SCHMIDThe first section of the sale comprises books, manuscripts and objects from the Lothar Schmid collection, generally considered to be the finest chess library still in private hands. Notable volumes include the oldest surviving book on the game of chess, by Lucena (lot 47), scarce incunable editions of Cessolis'De ludo schachorum (lots 10-12), and a group of rare publications on the Automaton Chess Player: the purported Enlightenment predecessor of Artificial Intelligence (lots 2 and 34). Other outstanding items include Menzel's „Die Schachpartie“ (The Game of Chess), the eminent German Realist's first painting in oil (lot 84), and scoresheets from the most important chess match of the twentieth century (lot 67).LOTS 87-92: SIX IMPORTANT BOOKS FROM THE ASTOR FAMILY LIBRARYThe subsequent section comprises six important books with highly distinguished provenance, including an extraordinary first edition of Lactantius: the first dated book printed in Italy (lot 91), a vanishingly rare first printed edition ofLe Roman de la Rose (lot 92), and a first edition of Castiglione'sIl libro del cortegiano, magnificently bound by Jean Picard for Jean Grolier (lot 89).LOTS 93-115: LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS FROM A DISTINGUISHED COLLECTORRounding off the auction is a fine selection of autograph letters and documents from another distinguished collector, including an autograph letter signed by Benjamin Franklin to the British Prime Minister (lot 100) and Darwin’s last known letter (lot 98).For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact:[email protected](+44) 207 293 5283 (bids general line)For sale enquiries please contact:Gabriel HeatonDirector, Specialist | Books Manuscripts+44 20 7293 [email protected] PasseyAssociate Specialist, Books Manuscripts+44 (0) 7515 [email protected] HamerAssociate, Books [email protected] GoldthorpeHead of Books and Manuscripts, Europe+44 (0)20 7293 [email protected]

Schachsammlung

Die Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesbibliothek verfügt über die wohl größte in öffentlichem Besitz befindliche Sammlung von Schachliteratur in Deutschland.

Lothar Schmids Sammlung kommt unter den Hammer | Perlen vom Bodensee

Die Schachsammlung des deutschen Großmeisters Lothar Schmid wird im kommenden Monat bei Sotheby’s in London versteigert. Das berichtet The Guardian. Die Sammlung umfasst mehr als 50.000…

Books, Manuscripts & Objects from Three Important Collections | 2026 | Sotheby's

LOTS 1-86: FROM THE CHESS COLLECTION OF LOTHAR SCHMIDThe first section of the sale comprises books, manuscripts and objects from the Lothar Schmid collection, generally considered to be the finest chess library still in private hands. Notable volumes include the oldest surviving book on the game of chess, by Lucena (lot 47), scarce incunable editions of Cessolis'De ludo schachorum (lots 10-12), and a group of rare publications on the Automaton Chess Player: the purported Enlightenment predecessor of Artificial Intelligence (lots 2 and 34). Other outstanding items include Menzel's „Die Schachpartie“ (The Game of Chess), the eminent German Realist's first painting in oil (lot 84), and scoresheets from the most important chess match of the twentieth century (lot 67).LOTS 87-92: SIX IMPORTANT BOOKS FROM THE ASTOR FAMILY LIBRARYThe subsequent section comprises six important books with highly distinguished provenance, including an extraordinary first edition of Lactantius: the first dated book printed in Italy (lot 91), a vanishingly rare first printed edition ofLe Roman de la Rose (lot 92), and a first edition of Castiglione'sIl libro del cortegiano, magnificently bound by Jean Picard for Jean Grolier (lot 89).LOTS 93-115: LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS FROM A DISTINGUISHED COLLECTORRounding off the auction is a fine selection of autograph letters and documents from another distinguished collector, including an autograph letter signed by Benjamin Franklin to the British Prime Minister (lot 100) and Darwin’s last known letter (lot 98).For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact:[email protected](+44) 207 293 5283 (bids general line)For sale enquiries please contact:Gabriel HeatonDirector, Specialist | Books Manuscripts+44 20 7293 [email protected] PasseyAssociate Specialist, Books Manuscripts+44 (0) 7515 [email protected] HamerAssociate, Books [email protected] GoldthorpeHead of Books and Manuscripts, Europe+44 (0)20 7293 [email protected]

Books, Manuscripts & Objects from Three Important Collections | 2026 | Sotheby's

LOTS 1-86: FROM THE CHESS COLLECTION OF LOTHAR SCHMIDThe first section of the sale comprises books, manuscripts and objects from the Lothar Schmid collection, generally considered to be the finest chess library still in private hands. Notable volumes include the oldest surviving book on the game of chess, by Lucena (lot 47), scarce incunable editions of Cessolis'De ludo schachorum (lots 10-12), and a group of rare publications on the Automaton Chess Player: the purported Enlightenment predecessor of Artificial Intelligence (lots 2 and 34). Other outstanding items include Menzel's „Die Schachpartie“ (The Game of Chess), the eminent German Realist's first painting in oil (lot 84), and scoresheets from the most important chess match of the twentieth century (lot 67).LOTS 87-92: SIX IMPORTANT BOOKS FROM THE ASTOR FAMILY LIBRARYThe subsequent section comprises six important books with highly distinguished provenance, including an extraordinary first edition of Lactantius: the first dated book printed in Italy (lot 91), a vanishingly rare first printed edition ofLe Roman de la Rose (lot 92), and a first edition of Castiglione'sIl libro del cortegiano, magnificently bound by Jean Picard for Jean Grolier (lot 89).LOTS 93-115: LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS FROM A DISTINGUISHED COLLECTORRounding off the auction is a fine selection of autograph letters and documents from another distinguished collector, including an autograph letter signed by Benjamin Franklin to the British Prime Minister (lot 100) and Darwin’s last known letter (lot 98).For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact:[email protected](+44) 207 293 5283 (bids general line)For sale enquiries please contact:Gabriel HeatonDirector, Specialist | Books Manuscripts+44 20 7293 [email protected] PasseyAssociate Specialist, Books Manuscripts+44 (0) 7515 [email protected] HamerAssociate, Books [email protected] GoldthorpeHead of Books and Manuscripts, Europe+44 (0)20 7293 [email protected]

Telegraph Chess: A 19th Century Tech Marvel

Chess went electric in 1844 with a telegraph match between Washington and Baltimore. How did this game shape the future of chess and technology?

GameTable • COST ACTION CA22145 – Computational Techniques for Tabletop Games Heritage